The Department of Veterans Affairs has many special programs for veterans.  So many programs, in fact, that most of them are not used to their fullest.  One problem in finding out about these programs is the fact that the VA just doesn't promote them.  The other problem is that veterans don't ask, "Is there a program that can provide this service for me?"  This combination can lead to many veterans missing out on vital health care services.

One underused program is the VA's Vesting Clinics.  Many veterans are military retirees who use TRICARE to provide their primary care provider.  But, many of these veterans also use the VA for some health care services.  An example would be a retiree who sees a primary care provider through TRICARE but also qualifies for dental and vision care at the VA.  Many veterans feel the VA's dental and vision benefits are much better than TRICARE's.

This is where the Vesting Clinic program comes in.  Vesting Clinics are for veterans who receive primary care outside the VA system but do utilize some VA services.  The Vesting Clinic is set up by the VA to help the veteran coordinate health care at all levels.  A VA Vesting Clinic may call a veteran to see if he or she wants an appointment, or the veteran may initiate this program by calling his or her local VA facility.

The Vesting Clinic will perform a primary care intake examination and other tests as deemed appropriate.  This information is then placed in the veteran's VA records, and the veteran is counseled about available health care options.  This information is then provided to the veteran's TRICARE physician.  So, veterans should look at the Vesting Clinic as a second opinion.  I recently received an e-mail from a veteran whose father had visited a Vesting Clinic.  The clinic diagnosed kidney cancer.  This had gone undetected by the TRICARE physician.  That veteran began a course of treatment and now, more than two years later, is living a healthy, normal life. 

Another program the VA has had in place for about a year is the tele-retinal imaging program for veterans with diabetes.  Currently, more than 20 percent of all veterans being seen by the VA are diabetic.  This program screens for diabetic retinopathy, or DR, a primary cause of blindness in those with diabetes.  DR causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year in the United States.  This makes diabetes the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.

Veterans with diabetes are scheduled for the tele-retinal imaging via the computerized patient record system, or CPRS. The digital images taken of the retina at VA clinics are then sent via high-speed data links to an image reading center, where an eye care specialist determines the need for further care.  This is state-of-the-art technology that provides veterans with diabetes an early warning system for vision problems.

VA Secretary Jim Nicholson said of the program, "This technology will make a difference for our nation's veterans.  Early detection of retinal abnormalities is essential in preventing vision loss from diabetes.  This is another example of VA's commitment to provide world-class care to our nation's veterans."

These are just two of the many specialized programs the VA offers to veterans.  But, in most cases, veterans have to ask for these services.  By a strange fluke of law, the VA is not required to inform veterans of any benefits or services.  So, the burden of discovering available VA services falls to the veteran.

If you feel you qualify for either of these two programs, call your local VA facility for an appointment.